Last year, I went to the Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens for an event they call Book and a Beer. It's pretty much what it sounds like: I read from my book while people drank beer. Then I signed my books while I drank beer. Then I ate dinner and had some more beer. Then we drove around looking for another seafood restaurant. Then we went fishing.
I had a lot of fun, filled a lot of growlers with Arrogant Bastard, Double dry-hopped IPA, Barleywine, and some other stuff I'm told I really enjoyed not sharing with the rest of the class a few days later. In fact, I had so much fun, I'm going back next week to do it all again … only this time, IT'S PERSONAL!
Wait. That's not what I was going to say. I mean, yes, it's personal, but that's not what's awesome about this time. What's awesome about this time is that I'm just the opening act for Rifftrax! They're doing The Matrix: The One That Really Sucks Out Loud And Makes You Want To Punch Babies. (No, not that one, the other one.) For the six of you who don't know: Rifftrax is a few of the guys from MST3K doing that thing they do so well, only this time they're doing it LIVE. I think it's safe to say that it'll be awesome.
I start at 6pm. I plan to read for either 20 or 40 minutes, depending on how many people show up, and what they're in the mood to hear me read. I'll be prepared with stuff from Happiest Days of Our Lives, and stuff from Memories of the Future. I'll also be prepared to stare into an empty space, wipe a single tear from my eye, and go drown my sorrows in beer. (That, by the way, is one of my default settings and is not specific to this event. It is a class feature, if you will.)
I plan to bring a few copies of some of my books with me, but due to bad planning, I'm very low on stock at the moment, and the string is all in three-inch lengths. However, if you come to the Bistro with your own copies of my books, I'll be happy to sign them for you. I will also sign …other things… within reason.
MY DETAILS! LET ME SHOW YOU THEM:
Why: Really?
When: Thursday July 23rd, 6pm-8pm.
Where: Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens
Address: 1999 Citricado Pkwy. Escondido, CA 92029
Pleasepleasepleaseplease come and hang out. It'll be a lot of fun, I promise. If you are coming, would you sort of RSVP in the comments?
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Man, that sounds awesome. If I could be there, I would, but there’s this unfortunate “work” thing that will keep me away. Hope everyone who can make it has a blast!
Sounds like so much fun! I just don’t think I’ll be able to make a 20 hr drive on a Thursday night. Bummer. Come up and read at a brewery in Portland, I’m there. 🙂
I know this isn’t the sort of RSVPing you meant, Wil, but I just wanted to say that if I lived on your side of the country instead of mine, I’d be there in a heartbeat!! Good luck, break a leg, etc., and know that those of us who can’t be there in body will be there in spirit! 😀
-Alicia (@AliciaWag)
Oh sure, make it during SDCC. Why can’t I be in two places at once!?!
Excellent. Since I’m in San Francisco, I’ll have to send my proxy. You won’t know him either, but he’ll be wearing my underwear.
It’s only 30 minutes or so from SDCC! At night! And there’s beer!
BEER!
I will go if they have the double dry hopped Ruination as one of their cask beers… or, if I can convince the bf to go to Stone with me (one of those things is easy to accomplish).
Ah, the joy of having the yummiest beer on earth 20 minutes away–it is glorious.
I look forward to the reading!
Well, since you’ve mentioned beer again . . . I will have to check with Mr. Malki ! as to our scheduling. Because I dooo like beer. . . .ok and you are pretty cool too. =p
One of the best afternoons of my life was spent with my darling bride at Stone World Bistro last summer. On our trip to coach the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s marathoners at Rock & Roll San Diego, we took a day and rented a car JUST to drive up to Escondido for the brewery. It is a memory I’ll always cherish with her.
The guys and gals at Stone could not be better hosts. The food is amazing, and the beer. Well, I don’t need to tell any of you about the beer.
If there was any way for us to get back over there for your reading, you’d better believe we would. But I encourage any of you within even unreasonable distance to make the trek. Stone alone is worth it – but Stone + Wil + Rifftrax = guaranteed awesome.
[Insert “East Coast” WHRRGRRBL Here]
6? Okay, I’ll be there. I won’t have time to have changed, so I’ll still be in a corset and paintsmeared, maybe even a bit late, but I’ll be there.
p.s. Is my email in your Stuff to Get To pile? 😉
Tell Mister Malki! that I desperately need more beards there, so I’m not the only one.
BEARDS! IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE BEER!
Seriously, I think this whole thing was pre-ordained.
A single tear washes down my cheek.
I stifle a sob and swallow another mouthful of Fat Tire.
Alone, I sit thinking of all the fun you will be having.
I bury my head and cry silently into the night.
WHY, CALIFORNIA, WHY!?!?!?
Why must you keep all the fun to yourselves? What did I ever do to you? Have I not been supportive of your needs? Have I not paid due homage to the celebrities you give us?
When, oh when, California, will you let Wil outside to play in another state, not neighboring yours and actually quite far from you, in which I am sure he has many fans just like me, and would like to grovel at his feet in supplication like the unworthy souls that we are, and buy his books to make him wealthy beyond his dreams, and give him beer?
*sob* 🙁
At the very least I could sport one in support, but that takes some application time.
Just hold up one of Malki!’s books everywhere you go.
Problem solved.
Would be awesome to have a beer while listening to a book reading!! Any chance of doing that here somewhere in Texas?
Damn, I wish Escondido was nearer NSW than CA.
Touché.
JLaBouff, you do not lie. 🙂
As everyone else is putting in their requests for what sounds like an excellent idea for a tour i nominate Toronto!!! (by tour i mean pub crawl with books)
This Englishman living in the wilds of Northern Ontario will be there without hesitation!!
Do it Wil, Do it!! Beer all over North America!
That is so farking awesome! Beer, you, your books, beer, RiffTrax, beer… the drive is a little far for me so I don’t think we’ll make it but break a leg! I’ll drink a beer at the appropriate time just for y’all!
Oh how I wish that I lived in CA rather than VA. I am glad that you are proving that geeks don’t only have to drink Mountain Dew, however. Stone Brewing = mmmmmm. . .
I’m definitely thinking about going, but it’s a matter of convincing the man… He does love Stone though, so it shouldn’t really be all that hard.
Hey I brew my own beer – can I get a Wil Wheaton reading? 🙂
Oh, how you taunt me, Beer, Wil, and Movie Night. Why, oh why, must the 6am shift loom over me mockingly???
I may yet throw caution and good sense to the wind and make the drive.
I do, however, have a question: $?
I don’t believe there is an admission charge, but you could double-check with the Bistro to be sure.
Ooh, please drink a toast to me – That’s my BIRTHDAY!
Hey Wil!
I work for RiffTrax, and I will definitely be there. We’re setting up our booth for Preview night that same day but, since you’re going to be there (Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy are also stopping by the Bistro) I think I’ll have to “settle” for the awesome hops at Stone.
See you there!
Wil’s right, there is no admission fee. But they might ask you to buy a beer if you’re going to sit in the restaurant 🙂 (The RiffTrax event itself is free.)
Don’t forget, the Stone 13th Anniversary brew should be there. Mike got to try it before they released it, and I got to have some. It’s pretty amazing stuff.
Allow me to confirm that, yes, the 13th Anniversary Brew is UNBELIEVABLE. It’s like 9%, though, so approach with caution.
Okay, I feel like an ass, but could someone please explain the string reference? It’s drilling a hole in my brain because I know I’ve heard the referent somewhere, but I can’t tease it out and it’s driving me nuts.
Sorry to sound crazy, but brainworms are the worst. ARGH.
I shall do all within my power to be there, where “all within my power” involves convincing someone to drive.
WHEATON’S INDIVIDUAL STRINGETTES! THE NOW STRING! READY CUT, EASY TO HANDLE, WHEATON’S INDIVIDUAL EMPEROR STRINGETTES – JUST THE RIGHT LENGTH!
You almost make me wish I lived in L.A. Almost.
Monty Python’s Instant Record Collection.
Just made the reservation! Can’t wait to hang/drink beer/listen /drink beer/geek out and, oh yeah, drink beer!
Too much to ask to buy you an Arrogant Bastard (or 13th Anniversary)?
I’m pretty sure I can make this – any excuse to go to the Bistro for some Beer Cheese Soup, and to get so meet you in person finally just seals the deal 🙂 Will probably be dragging some of my Comic-Con’ers friends along too!
If I can somehow find a way to get there from SDCC I will totally go, but I won’t have my car. So I guess we’ll see.
YEA!!! I am there, and since I am not going to Con on Thursday, I will be there to listen to you read again. I loved when you were at Mysterious Galaxy last year and I look forward to this. Thank you for coming out this way again.
The California Browncoats are hosting Dr Horrible’s Sing a Long Blog at 8pm that night. Will I be able to make it to see you speak and then back in time for that? Will you be signing at Comic Con at all because I have a Wesley Crusher figure that wants to meet you 🙂
Well, I’d love for you to come to my thing, but I’d hate it if you missed Doctor Horrible. If I were you, I’d blow me off, just to be sure.
Maybe if you left the Bistro at 7 – and no later than 7 – you’d get back to the con in time to park and get a seat.
Maybe a local will chime in and tell us how long it takes to get from the Bistro to downtown San Diego on a Thursday night?
Not only is it unbelievable, but it’s pretty hard to find anywhere else! All BevMo stores are sold out, but hopefully will have some more in this week. It’s going fast!
Forty minutes or so on a Thursday night. Ten extra minutes of Stone!
Ohhhhh I wish I could go so badly. Sounds like a blast. I just had my own version of that event, where I drank good beer and read my own ramblings about Star Trek, that I wrote when I was SEVEN. YEARS. OLD. I wrote stories about Cerk, Spok, and the “Enter Prize.” I can’t believe I was a Trekkie before 2nd grade.
I’ll bring a group. Beer + mst3k + book reading == good times.
Edit: An hour is probably right on to account for the convention center parking, getting a seat, etc. Forty minutes on the road…
As if I need an excuse to revisit the Stone Bistro… but if I DID need an excuse, this would be a fine one! Looking forward to the festivities. Unfortunately, my wife (Kristine Oller) already has plans that night, but, by the look of the jealous squint she is throwing at me from across the room, she wishes she could come!
Wil, you’re suggesting a fan blow you off that evening?!?!
Obvioulsly not a family event. You must be banking on people drinking alot of that beer. 🙂
Oh yes? It does ring a bell as Python now that you mention it. What was the bit?
Now that my brain’s clearing up – I so wish I could be there ’cause it sounds awesome! Alas, I have no transpo. *weeps*
If you do something like this in L.A., I will geekily attend.